Jeremy Stephens (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who was recently granted a temporary leave from the UFC and picked up a win in a smaller Iowa-based organization last month, will return to the Octagon at UFC 76, where he’ll take on Nate Mohr (8-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned.

A source close to Stephens told MMAjunkie.com that a contract hasn’t been signed, but the fight’s been offered and that he’s expected to take it.

On July 28 at Midwest Cage Championships 9, Stephens defeated Nick Walker (3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) with a TKO victory at 4:45 of the first round. The event at 95KGGO Arena in Urbandale, Iowa.

At just 21 years old, Stephens, a MCC and Greensparks Full Contact Fighting veteran, is one of MMA’s and the Midwest’s youngest and most promising prospects.

He made a memorable but unsuccessful Octagon debut against Din Thomas at UFC 71. Stephens was controlled throughout most of the fight, but as the first round came to a close, Stephens — best known for the nickname “Lil’ Heathen” — launched a spirited assault that won over the Las Vegas crowd. The Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy fighter began the second round with the same intensity but was eventually caught with an armbar submission by the more-experienced Thomas halfway through the round.

He’s now expected to face Mohr, who took the first fight of his MMA career on just 20 minutes’ notice. He began his early career with a 3-3 record but has since won five of his past six.

In his Octagon debut, Mohr suffered a first-round submission loss to Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night 9 but bounced back with a unanimous-decision victory over Luke Caudillo at UFC Fight Night 10 in June.

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